Edwardian Silver & Green Enamel "Lucky Swastika" Bookmark

An Edwardian silver Bookmark, the terminal formed as a green enamel Swastika (a symbol of good luck in the early 20th century).

By Adie & Lovekin, Birmingham, 1910

In good condition with no damage or repair

The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika, which means “good fortune” or “well-being." The motif (a hooked cross) appears to have first been used in Neolithic Eurasia, perhaps representing the movement of the sun through the sky. To this day it is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

The swastika (gammadion, "fylfot") symbol became a popular symbol of luck in the Western world in the early 20th century, as it had long been in Asia, and was often used for ornamentation. The Nazi Party adopted the symbol in the 1920s, and its use in Western countries faded after the Nazi association became dominant in the 1930s.